Inspector Ian Tustain carried out a monitoring inspection visit of The King's Church of England School last month, in what was the first routine inspection of the Tettenhall school since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He found that “leaders' plans to improve the school focus on the right things", and while the pandemic had delayed the pace of change to some extent, their "creativity and energy have ensured that improvement has not stalled."
Staff and pupils at the school "work together to grow, learn and aspire", with staff quick to reward pupils for their efforts. Leaders expect the best from staff and pupils, with the young people themselves telling Mr Tustain "they are proud to be part of their school".
Lessons are "calm and productive", and leaders' work to improve the curriculum has been ongoing since the last inspection. Subject leaders have "aimed high" to create a curriculum which is "ambitious for all", including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Leaders have been "outward facing as they have sought to improve the school", and have utilised support provided by the City of Wolverhampton Council well, which has "helped strengthen leadership at all levels". They have also built successful and productive relationships with other schools, giving "leaders the opportunity to reflect on their work and how they could do things better".
A broad range of subjects is now offered across Key Stages 3 and 4 with the school taking steps to encourage more pupils to study a foreign language in Years 10 and 11, including the recent introduction of Spanish to the Key Stage 3 curriculum.
Leadership of the sixth form has also been strengthened, with students telling the inspector they "value the education and support teachers provide".
Mr Tustain made 2 recommendations for areas for further action and concluded that leaders and governors "are taking effective action in order for the school to become a good school".
Joy Langley, Interim Principal, said: "We are delighted that Ofsted have recognised that the school is going from strength to strength and has remained focused and committed whilst overcoming the unprecedented challenges presented by the pandemic.
"Our vision statement inspires and informs every aspect of school life and we are particularly pleased that the inspector was able to see this and to hear from our pupils how proud they are of their school.
"It is a truly whole team effort and the report reflects the hard work and dedication of everyone and affirms us as we continue to journey towards becoming a beacon of excellence in the city."
Emma Bennett, the council's Executive Director of Families, said: "This is a positive report which shows strong improvement at The King’s CE School, which has been achieved in spite of all the difficulties imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
"I am pleased that the excellent leadership shown by Joy Langley and her team, in tandem with the support offered by the council's Education team, is bringing about the changes needed to ensure that The Kings will become a Good school in due course."
